When I was growing up I remember a time when all the adults were discussing which three books they would take with them if they were stuck on a desert island. Later top ten lists became popular for books, records, and numerous other categories. Some of these lists became very important for sales and marketing, while others were more for entertainment, think David Letterman.
I was thinking about what I would put on a favorite garden tools list. I think I would start with nitrile gloves, also known as mud gloves. Prior to their invention most gardeners used fabric or leather gloves, neither of which was pleasant when things got damp. These gloves have made gardening so much easier, neater, and the gloves last longer.
The next tool on the list would be the hand pruner. I use it almost every day whether it is dead heading, pruning, grooming, harvesting or root pruning. Its sharpener allows me to maintain a nice sharp edge on the blades. The third tool would be the transplanting spade. This narrow spade allows me to remove and replace old woody plants without harming their neighbors. It can go where many other spades and shovels cannot.
My fourth tool on the favorites list would be my suede gauntlet gloves. These were developed for working with roses but are handy for working with all kinds of spiny plants. Having suffered from rose thorns under the fingernails and others into the palm when wearing regular gloves, I am very fond of these with extra protection.
The fifth tool on the list is a combination one. Turned one way it is a padded garden seat that allows you to sit while doing deadheading or light pruning. If you need to be working at a lower level, you flip the tool over and it becomes a padded kneeler with long handles to help lower yourself down or raise yourself back up. This tool can really be wonderful if your back or knees are giving you problems.
Now a favorite garden tools list is not static. It could change if you moved to a different location or took up a new garden interest. I would think bonsai might require some different tools than carnivorous plants, etc. It would certainly change with the different seasons of a person's life. In my twenties, the combination seat/kneeler would not have made the list, but it sure does now.
With that in mind, I thought I would throw in two honorable mentions. Loppers allow you to cut larger branches and roots that are beyond the realm of the hand pruner. The hand trowel can be used for digging small holes, loosening plants in pots, scooping soil into pots, tamping soil down and many other things.
So that's my list. I'll bet yours would differ. I'd love to hear your favorites.